The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-03
SUNDAY IN THE CHURCHES
Services Commemorative of the Semi
Centennial of Christ Church.
Its History and Work NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by
Seventh-Day Adyentists at the EXPOSE
tion Grounds-Other Special Services.

Services nemOrALlVo
versary of the establishing of its parish were
held, yesterday, at Christ Episcopal Church
The event further observed by handsomely
decorating the altar with floral designs, con-
spicuous among which were beautiful anchor
and star. The former a memorial to Judge
Morrison. and the latter. over the Bishops
chair, was in memory of Bishop Talbot. In the
morning the church crowded with the
people Of other city parishes and denominations
10 hear historical sermon from Bishop Fuller.
of Utah. The fourth chapter and twenty-sixth
verse of Galatians supplied the text for his
theme, THE Church Our Mother" In develop
ing this theme the Bishop spoke of The broad
influences Of Christianity in the betterment OF
the world. With wide Christian charity he
referred to the progress and excellent results
achieved by all denominations Detailing the
slow development of the missionary spirit in
this country in his own church, he referred to
its growth in Indiana, which almost at its be-
ginning, fifty years ago, led to the organization
of Christ Church parish. The existence of the
parish and his own life were coextensve, as he
born in the year it was formed. DIR.
Ksmper was the first missionary Bishop for
Indiana He at the same time directed the inter-
ests of the church in Missouri. Coincident with
tie coming of Rev. James 3. Brtton to Indian
apolis the first resident Episcopal missionary,
was the anniversary of the Declaration os Inde-
pendence. On that day he arrived here
snd began his work, the result of which is
cow manifested in the vigorous and progressive
membership of Christ Church. This incident
suggested to the Bishop the relations of Christi
anity to patriotism, which he based an ex-
hortation to Christians to hold the interests of
their country near TO their hearts. In sustain
ing patriotic impulses and duties the church can
do a great deal, for of it's features has always
been a reverence for law and order, and con-
servation of constituted authorities. He also
exhorted his hearers to stand closely to the
mother and larger church, and closed his SER
mon by eoquently reciting the hymn, "Oh,
Mother, Dear Jerusalem" Following the SER
mon the holy communion was observed, in
which larger number of communicates than
usual took part. Among them was Mrs. De-
borah Moore, who supposed to be one of two
original parishioners living the other
being Jacob B. McChesney.
In the afternoon the exercises of the Sunday
school were in keeping with the day. In 1897
This branch OF Christ's Church work began with
three teachers and thirteen scholars. It
now has six hundred scholars, with CORES
ponding increase in teachers. r. r. Parker
gave account of the present mission school
Bishop Knickerbacker catechized the scholars
and found them, as he said, exceedingly prof.
RENT. An interesting incident was the intro
luction to the school by DR.. Bradley. the rector,
Of the two Oldest scholars. One was Miss Emily
Upfold, daughter of the deceased Bishop. She
belonged to the first Sunday school organized in
the parish. and gave brief account of the Incl
dents of that time, one Of which related to the
FIRST Christmas tree festival given in Indianapo.
lis. Isaac 81. Kiersted the other oldest
Pcholar. His experiences with the school dates
back forty -six years. Bishop Tuttls closed the
exercises with an address on the value of the
Sunday school in missionary work.
In the evening the church was again crowded
10 hear addresses from Bishops Knickerbacker |
and Tutte in regard to the developernent OF the
missionary spirit In the Protestant Episcopal |
Church The former confined his statements
and statistics to it's growth in Indiana while |
the latter spoke especially of the that
awakened the hurch to this work. Preceding |
them Dr. Bradley read a short statistical account |
of the progress of the parish. Mr.. Brtton began |
his services with seven members, but at the |
close of his fret year he had thirty. Since then
there have been baptized /. 756 persons while 976
were confirmed. During the fifty years there were
B37 marriages and 627 burias. The church has
now the largest number of communicates, 400
years no record of the church offerings was
kept, but during the past thirty years these
amount to $l34, go. 76
In his address Bishop Knickerbacker said the
FIRST missionary effort in the interest OF the
Episcopal Church in Indiana by Rev. Mr..
Pfeiffer in 1925 The first baptism occurred at
that time. After that occasional services were |
held by Rev. Mr. Shaw, then Bishop Williams,
put from Connecticut, and then went to Craw-
fordsvie. thence into Wisconsin and the great
James Britton, of Philadelphia,
educated New York, went to Louisville and
then united with the church. After that he
same here and remained four years Heis now
n California enjoying in his old age the fruits of
we'll spent life. Not long ago he sent to the
Bishop decayed prayer book taken from
hes cornerstone OF the first Episcopal
kept in the archives of the Diocese.
rhe first vestry of Christ Church was elected
August l, 1887. and on the 22d of the May fol-
owing the corner stone of the first church was
aid. When this church was completed il was
he best in the State. and it's steeple. considered
INTELLECTUALLY perfect, became the model for
many steeples throughout Indiana. The first
services were held in the church Nov 49, 1887,
Ind on the 10th of the month the consecra-
ion ceremonies by Bishop Embar occurred
Bishop Talbot erected the present church edifce
t cost of 500, 900, and its chimes were given to
{ in 1861.
The Bishop regretted that the church had not
oIDe III with the establishing of the Territory.
Ouch to had been lost to Episcopalanism
hat account Indiana was for years q State
md had 500 600 people before the missionary
york by the Episcopal Church was begun with
q her borders. 1t should have begun with
he tidal wave Of immigration. This failure
vas the cause of all the trouble in the progress
4 the church st this time, AS it difficult
ecover lost ground He then briefly touched |
mon the Indiana missionary vsitatons of
Bishop Chase, of Ohio, Bishop Ember, DIR.
roosevelt johnson and his cousin, Rev. d. b.
L. Johnson DIR. Scion Nanny and others. But
the drawbacks the church in
indiana had made wonderful progress.
Bishop Tutte said that what has been done in
indiana is typical of the work in the East and
tner parts OF the country. The Episcopal
hurch In America at the close of the Revo-
1t,onary war was weighted down with disabili-
les, one of which that the church was con-
dered in sympathy with King George, and that
. members were tories. The English church
arly sent missionaries into the field but no
ishops- Deprived of these officials the church
Icks power and fullness. Nothing OF an episco-
al character could be performed except at Lon
on At a meeting OF the American clergymen
nd bishops in 1885 discussion missionary
ork took place, and from this came a spirit
lat has made every man, woman and
1ild in the church missionary. It pervades ]
le whole church, and the result is shown that I
10 best missionaries are to be found in the !
-. L. 49,.